Protagoras & The Sophists: Relativism and Democracy

Protagoras was not only the first professional Sophist, he was also one of the most important. While Plato and Aristotle had a low opinion of the Sophists, in reality he was a profound thinker and as much of a philosopher as anyone else. His famous statement that "Man is the measure of all things" has been seen as the earliest expression of Relativism, and was radically democratic. By arguing that civic virtue could be taught, and that the opinions of others are valid and should be respected, he provides the earliest theoretical foundation for a democracy based on direct participation.
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The Trial of Socrates (Plato's Apology): • The Trial of Socrates ...
The Greek Miracle, Ancient Exceptionalism: • The "Greek Miracle": E...
Interested in Greek philosophy? Check out this playlist on the Presocratics!:
• Presocratic Philosophy
Want to learn more? Check out these links!
plato.stanford.edu/entries/pr...
iep.utm.edu/protagor/#SH3a
00:00 Introduction
01:57 Who are the Sophists?
04:50 Criticism of the Sophists (The Clouds)
10:18 Comparing Socrates to the Sophists
11:40 Protagoras
19:02 Outro

[@professor_kraken]

I feel like you are just going through stuff you know and explaining it to us, while I sit flabbergasted, and I love it! Great content as always man, happy to see your channel grow,

[@NOTHINGNEWYT]

Thank you for the support! My mind was blown when I started really studying Ancient Greece, it's like seeing an old photo of your great grandpa and noticing all the family resemblance. It's amazing to see the connections between the present and the past, and very fulfilling figuring out how to communicate these ideas to other people.

[@kek6358]

Great video, subscribed!

[@puppetmaskerr]

Good video.
Wonder how many other philosophical terms got completed swayed due to influential enmity.

[@AP-yx1mm]

I think in language(s) in general. I have on top of my mind few examples: Despot, Tyrant. Both terms dennoted someone who is in power, it only later assumed negative meaning. Or the opposite for the word "Bravo", comming from italian "bravo", meaning good, but originally meaning evil, coming etymologically from "pravus", from where we got "depraved" that is way more negative. So it is crazy...

[@leonmills3104]

Truth is Relative

[@andychap6283]

I always learn something watching your videos, thanks for the content

[@NOTHINGNEWYT]

Thanks for watching!